Alberta has declared an early start to wildfire season as a result of an unusually dry and mild winter, allowing the government to put more money and resources into tackling blazes.
Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks addressing what he said was a proactive approach by the province towards unfavorable wildlife conditions brought on by lower-than-average forecast precipitation and El Niño weather conditions.
If passed, Budget 2024, which is expected to come down on February 29, would include funding to hire 100 new firefighters, which will result in five additional 20-person crews.
Alberta is suffering from drought, and there are 52 wildfires still burning in the province from last year as well as 17 new blazes so far in 2024.
According to provincial data, in 2023, a total of 1,094 wildfires burned 2,214,957 hectares.
The province relied on support from 4,038 firefighters from around the world, including 1,101 from across Canada, 1,526 from the United States, 664 from South Africa, and 574 from Australia.
Minister Loewen say’s that Alberta is getting ready, and are preparing for the upcoming fire season.
In the meantime, Albertans are urged to exercise extreme caution in forested areas and to avoid burning under warm, dry and windy conditions.
Anyone who spots a wildfire can report it by calling 310-FIRE.
Screenshot of Alberta Wildfire Status Dashboard – February 20, 2024
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